More and more home inspectors are signing up to take training classes and investing in state of the art infrared cameras in hopes of cashing in on this trend. Perhaps you are searching for a thermal infrared camera. However, it is very important for you to know the fundamental characteristics of thermal infrared cameras which can affect the quality of the infrared photos produced by these cameras.
The Pixel Resolution: This is one important factor to consider. Remember that the usual resolution aspect of infrared cameras is lower 
than the regular digital photography which is around 10 Megapixels or more.
Consider first your budget, the image quality you wanted, and the application so you can easily choose the appropriate camera resolution. Take note that even a high resolution thermal camera can produce images of only 640×480 which fits only a portion of a 22″ monitor.
Next, shop around and get yourself acquainted with all the different brands and models of thermal imaging cameras. You have models that start out around six hundred dollars all the way up to 20 thousand doallars and beyond! Which one is right for the job you’ll be using it for? You don’t want ot over pay and you don’t want to buy the wrong camera. This is why it’s important that you thoroughly research cameras and familiarize yourself with them.
The image produced by the camera when you increase the image contrast is well determined through thermal sensitivity. Thermal sensitivity varies according to the temperature of the object. The slope of the sensor’s output signal will rise as the object temperature increases.
There are two basic types of infrared cameras. The un-cooled and the Cryogenically cooled. The infrared detector aspects of the un-cooled are set up in the unit that operates at room temperature. This type of camera will not produce any noise, provides a built-in battery pack, and activates fast.
Look at how you’ll be using the infrared camera. Will you be mainly looking for water intrusion or will you also be looking for things such as insect damage or perhaps inefficient amounts of insulation in the walls and ceilings? All these will have an impact on which type of thermal imaging camera you buy.
Lastly, remember that the most expensive brand or model is not necessarily the best for you. The latest point and shoot cameras from Flir and others make it easy to use their imaging equipment. One of these models may be just what you need if you only inspect residential homes.
